Elder Pierce McMullan : May 2015

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

More patience....

Elder McMullan didn't have too much to say. It sounds like his comp is still giving him a hard time. He's being SUPER patient. If this had been 2+ years ago..., I think he would have decked him by now. :( (Yay for progress!!!)

Here are a few excerpts from yesterday's email:

"So this week…., nothing really happened interesting. We do have some good people progressing rather smoothly though, so that’s good! Elder D (One of the zone leader’s that live with us) goes home next week, so Elder R has been getting really trunkie for him. ( Elder D doesn’t seem trunkie at all really.) It’s more of a joke to him because he doesn’t feel like he’s going home. Then President, told me to throw water on Elder R when he won’t get up in the am. Maybe I’ll do it.?? I just hope it doesn’t turn into some fist fight, because I feel like it could." (Luckily Tim advised him against the water idea....)"

"Things have been going really well with our investigator, "E." She is the grandma of a recent convert. (the missionaries were teaching her and her grandson) He ended up getting baptized, but not her. She went to church for the first time yesterday, which was sweet."

"Tell everyone I say hi at the barbecue. We actually had one today too for Elder D’s last Pday. So that was fun.

Also, I sent a letter to you. You should probably get it soon."

"I talked to Moris today. (Papito) I think he’ll come visit me at the temple in Santiago once I go home. That’ll be sweet!"

Elders with one of their investigators at church.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Another Pday.., another Museum. More pics...,oh and 54 DAYS!!!

As Elder McMullan's time comes closer to the end..., his emails seem to be getting shorter.

He is still having issues with his companion, and we all hope that he's learned what he was supposed to learn (more patience?) from this Elder, so that he can move on! (Cambio's are in a couple of weeks)

Here are a few excerpts from today's email:

"We switched our Pday to today (Wednesday) so we could go to the Esmeralda. It's a Museum here in town and it happens to be closed on Mondays."

"Slowly but surely, things are getting better with my Comp. It’s just that he likes to fight, and if you get mad, he wins. If you don’t get mad, then he won’t do what you want which makes him win again.... DANG IT. I’m just REALLY sick of the nasty jokes more than anything really. And the fact that ANY and EVERY time a girl walks by he turns his head around to look at her. It looks so bad as a missionary and more obvious actually, because there are so many people here! UGH. I think he’ll be transferred though, because if not, he’ll be here A LONG TIME. I just want a comp to end the mish with who will WANT to be obedient, like Elder V and Elder J. It was sweet serving with them because of that."

"There are a lot of receptive people here, but most are all foreign which stinks. For the most part, they are illegal or working on their papers. Our investigator, Doris will be baptized the 30th of this month though. I’m pretty dang sure! We also found this guy Nelson from Ecuador. He is SUPER humble. He came to us and started asking questions, so that was cool. It's going well with him."

"We keep getting Sushi on Pdays which is cool. It’s actually not too bad!"

Elder Quisbert

"The Esmeralda"

Wooden bathtub

Crew sleeping quarters? Hammocks

Now that's an anchor!

Pierce and his "classic poses"

Iquique

"We rented bikes today"

Surfing competition

Monday, May 11, 2015

Mother's Day Skype, Monday's email and MORE PICS!

It was AMAZING talking to Pierce on Mother's Day! I can't even describe how enlightening it was. Despite the not so great connection, him skyping in the middle of the kitchen of a large family who was VERY curious to see his family in America, (They were ADORABLE!!) while sitting next to his very loud and boisterous comp and then witnessing his younger brother have a complete meltdown. (A meltdown that he was able to completely dispel with his miraculous insight!) Yes, LOT'S of distractions and interruptions, but absolutely perfect and beautiful all the same! Every time we talk to him, I'm amazed at how much he's grown. (Spiritually and Maturity-wise) It's almost scary. A good kind of scary. You know how you KNOW your child and their heart from the get-go and even through those hard pre-teen and teen years.., you STILL can see their inner loveliness and potential??? Well..., it's really FABULOUS when you start to see it all come to fruition. I LOVE that he's still the same silly, funny and humble kid. Although, he now has a maturity,a seriousness and a massive spiritual bank to pull from, that he never had before.

Here are some random things we learned on Mother's Day: (Just a few that I can remember..., I really should have taken notes or recorded it.)

He STILL cuts his own hair, since he's STILL too cheap to pay anyone.
They do NOT have a "Mamita" who cooks for them. They cook all their own food, which often (if they are in a hurry), consists of rice and ketchup.., or rice and mayo. (One of his favs)
He lives in the CENTER of the city. Anything and everything is legal there and it all seems to happen right outside their apartment. :(
The city of Chanaral (a city in his mission) was completely wiped off the map by the recent flood. It was once a city of aprox 15,000. Now it is completely covered in 6 feet of compacted mud.
He hears about all kinds of "inventions" that are happening in America. One recent one everyone is talking about is a hair growing contraption machine. ??? Sign me up!
His Nike's have a hole from heal to toe and he refuses to buy new ones. Shocker.
Every time he is transferred, he gives an impromptu talk in Sacrament, so he's getting fairly good at it. (It's just expected) The last one he felt inspired to talk on Luke 5: 4-6. Don't give up! He's sees way too many people quit trying.
While Skyping from an inactive member's home, the Dad came over to say hello a few times and kept telling us how wonderful a missionary Pierce was and kissed him on the head! It was such a sweet thing to witness!
The Government is much more corrupt there, than it is here! (Good to know)
Bagged Mayo is a staple in his diet!
He's lost at least 10 pounds. :(

Here are a few excerpts form today's (Monday) email:

"How is Matthew? Doing better? It just makes me sad when people focus on the things that don’t matter. After we talked, I couldn't sleep at night, because I gave account.......(is that even said in English?)..I "me di cuenta" that there’s not much for me at home. Like you guys are there, but other than that.... nothing."

" I have learned that #1. Getting married is important # 2. The Prophet and Apostles might have something with the whole "getting married sooner rather than later" and #3. DON'T MESS IT UP. EVER! You only get 1 shot sooo, CUIDADO. "

"You know, I've never really been into material possessions. Even less now in the mission. Honestly, I’m really afraid of an immature spouse, or someone who’s comfortable where they are. STAGNANT. Just selfishness bothers me, and I know it shouldn't, but being with a companion who never wants to do anything unless it’s his idea is getting old. And it’s happened A LOT in my mission. I’m usually pretty cool with whatever, but then I’ll be like “let’s do this”, and then the complaints RAIN! Can I complain about people who complain? WHAT A DRAG LET ME TELL YOU. Anyways, just don’t want to mess it up because it’s one of the only important decisions we have to make. Cant mess that crap up!"

"The letters to "" and other friends were all.., well rants mom. Pretty much rants. Not to make you feel bad, but I’ve written you letters, almost sent them and then ended up destroying them because they were rants when I was depressed and when things weren't going right and I was just sad. I didn't want you to worry or get upset and go to president and stuff. Better to let the spurges die on their own. It helped to write it out though."